Rocky Mountain Tracking

By Greg Bartlett

Most people who buy GPS trackers for their property and assets will often consider the cost a bit of personal insurance. The technology can certainly help protect or recover items in case of loss or theft. Investment in a GPS tracker can seem small in comparison to the cost of losing a vehicle or other valuable property. Yet what if purchasing and installing GPS tracking technology could also save you money on your monthly insurance premiums?

Fact is, it can. Insurance companies recognize GPS trackers as simple yet effective way of safeguarding all sorts of property, so they’re willing to make it worth your while to give them a little more peace of mind. To them, it’s all about statistics, and GPS trackers will lower the odds of costly property loss.

The benefits among auto insurance providers may vary. Liberty Mutual is one of the biggest discounters, offering up to 25% off regular comprehensive monthly premiums to GPS users. Other insurance companies like AAA, Progressive, and Geico offer up to 18%, 15%, and 10% off respectively. Some companies have different discounts or requirements in different states, so call your agent and ask what benefits apply to your situation. If you’re a company managing an entire fleet of vehicles, GPS tracking will certainly net you a higher gain than an individual vehicle policy. If you’re a parent stressing over your newly licensed teen, there’s likely some discounts to be had there, as well. A few years ago, AIG began a program offering a particularly high discount to teen drivers who were willing to be tracked by their parents. Again, be sure to check out these discounts if you’re not already familiar with them. Don’t doubt that there’s one out there for you-about a dozen states (note: pdf link) have passed laws requiring insurance companies to offer incentives to drivers who purchase anti-theft devices like GPS trackers.

GPS trackers can also save you money indirectly. Most insurance companies have low mileage discounts for infrequent drivers, so a data sheet generated by your car’s GPS tracker can be a quick and simple way to show how much you’ve travelled during any relevant period of time. On a similar note, if you itemize your tax deductions, a GPS tracker is a great way to prove your low mileage at the end of every year to the IRS.

Even without the benefit of lower monthly premiums, GPS trackers pay for themselves by providing security and peace of mind. And if they can save you a few extra bucks as well, what’s keeping you from picking one up?

By Greg Bartlett

Insurance-it’s on everyone’s mind these days as the health care debate remains in the media spotlight.  Health insurance is just one of many forms of insurance which most people have.

When did you last consider your other insurance and how much you are paying?  For example: car insurance.  Did you know that many car insurance companies offer discounts to vehicles equipped with anti-theft devices?  Some states even require auto insurance companies to offer discounts for anti-theft devices (Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Texas).  And just in case you don’t think your car will ever be stolen, consider some statistics.  According to the FBI, a car is stolen in America every 33 seconds.  Those living in urban areas are at an even greater risk for car theft.

Don’t be lulled into complacency because you have an older car.  The National Crime Insurance Crime Bureau reports the top ten most stolen cars in 2006 were models were 1995, 1991, 1989, 1997, 2005, 1994 (several different models from this year), and 1990.  If you happen to own a motorcycle, you are at an even greater risk.  In 2008 60,763 motorcycles were reported stolen.

And while car thefts have fallen slightly over the past year, it is in part due to the advances in technology in anti-theft devices.  One such device is a GPS tracker.  A GPS tracker has two components: the satellites that do the tracking and the receiver that is attached to the vehicle.  There are roughly 24 satellites that can determine the location (latitude and longitude) of the receiver (can be a person, in this case your vehicle).  This information is sent to a database that is accessible by internet or through mobile devices.

Active GPS tracking systems give real-time information about the location of the receiver, while passive tracking is more like a log of events that occurred.  If your vehicle equipped with this type of anti-theft device were to be stolen, you would be able to determine the exact location, which is why insurance companies often reward such preventative measures with discounts.  These discounts can start around 5% and go as high as 30%.

As previously mentioned, some states require companies to offer discounts, but many, many companies in other states also offer incentives and discounts to owners who equip their vehicles with anti-theft devices.  If you are paying too much for car insurance, consider the investment in a device that will offer you many benefits-one of which would be lowering your monthly insurance costs.

By Greg Bartlett

The sale of GPS devices, including vehicle tracking devices, has greatly increased in the last twenty years. What started out as unheard of technology is now commonly known and used around the country and even around the world. Interestingly, in the same time span that sales of GPS devices skyrocketed, the number of car thefts was cut in half. Coincidence? The facts say ‘no.’

The Federal Bureau of Investigation names three contributors to this dramatic drop in car thefts. One is vehicle tracking devices. A second reason is the better enforcement of the police. And finally, power disabling systems have been influential.

Vehicle tracking devices have helped to deter would-be car thieves. Thieves know that many cars are now being monitored with vehicle tracking devices, and professional thieves do not want to ruin their entire operations by stealing a car with a tracking device. All it takes is one car with a tracking device to bust open an entire car theft operation. If a car with a tracking device is stolen, the owner can provide the police with the current location of the vehicle within a few feet and continue to update them on its location until the car is recovered. Geo-fencing capabilities of vehicle tracking devices can also notify owners that their car has left a particular location before the owner even realizes that it has been stolen.

Law enforcement officers have become more efficient and more effective throughout the years, thanks to many new technologies. Since most car thefts are done by professional car thieves, police officers have a better chance of catching these criminals than if they were just one-time thefts. The police officers also use vehicle tracking devices to make their job easier.

The third reason that car thefts have been reduced in the past twenty years is that new vehicles are usually equipped with power disabling systems. These systems require a special coded key to be used to start the car. Hotwiring the car, which has been a popular method for car thefts in the past, will not work for these vehicles, because the starter, ignition, and fuel line are all disabled until the coded key is used. People can also further insure that their vehicle is not stolen by purchasing and installing ignition immobilizers. When these are turned on, the car acts like it has run out of gas and the vehicle coasts to a stop. The car thief no longer has the ability to drive the vehicle, he can only steer and brake until the car comes to a stop.

With the help of vehicle tracking devices, your car is not only less likely to be stolen, but more likely to be recovered.

by James Neely, freelance writer: click | HERE | to check out GPS products from Rocky Mountain Tracking

Of all of the theft deterrent devices on the market for vehicles, GPS Tracking devices deliver the best value for the money.  Think differently?  Can your theft deterrent device do all of this?

Tracking for Location

Does your device allow you to monitor its location 24 x 7?  Can you pull up a map on your computer and know exactly where your vehicle is at all times?  Even if the battery cable has been cut?  Score one for GPS Tracking devices.

Tracking for Speed

How fast is your vehicle being driven?  Did you loan it out to a family member who lacks in basic responsibility skills?  Are they exceeding the speed limit in a vehicle with YOUR name attached to it?  Now you can know for sure with a GPS Tracking device.  Point:  GPS Tracking.

Tracking for Direction of Travel

Where is your vehicle headed? Has it breached a pre-designated area where it should be located?  With geo-fencing and alerts, you can know this information as well.  Advantage:  GPS Tracking

Tracking Insurance Savings

Does your on-board navigation system provide you a reduction on your insurance premium?  If not, this benefit goes to those who have GPS Tracking devices installed in their vehicles.  Service ace:  GPS Tracking.

Face it; GPS Tracking devices are far better than anything on the market.  It gives you all of the information that you need to keep your vehicle under close watch at all times.  Don’t get caught in a situation where you would have been better off if you had a GPS Tracking device.   It can happen to anyone.  Thieves are no respecter of persons, just the vehicles that they steal.

All of this boils down to one word: control.  You have greater control over your vehicle and that translates to a safer, better ownership experience.  And, saving money on the insurance premiums is like icing on the cake.  Don’t wait; get a GPS Tracking device for your vehicles today.  You will be glad you did.

Rocking Mountain Tracking has the best line-up of GPS Tracking Device to meet any need.  Take a look at their products and options for the best fit for your business.  You will find knowledgeable sales persons in helping you get the best unit to meet your requirements.

Ever had your vehicle stolen?  If so, then you know the frustration level that this event can have on your life.  It’s nothing short of maddening, because you no longer have your car to take you from place to place and the hassle that comes with trying to locate it, deal with the police report, work with your insurance company is frustrating.

That is why a GPS Tracking device attached to your vehicle makes sense.  Let’s face it, things are being stolen in greater numbers because of the bad economy and vehicles are at the top of the list.  Professional car thieves are good at what they do.  Better have a plan in place to help in case this happens to you.  Here’s what you can do with a GPS Tracking device:

Locate Instantly

Find your car in an instant from the satellite signal from your hidden GPS Tracking device.  The thieves will be none the wiser, but will be surprised when they are stopped and apprehended in short fashion.  They will just figure that it was a bad day for them.  Until they discover in court that the vehicle had a GPS Tracking device under the hood.  Sweet.

Save Money on Insurance

Everyone is into saving money these days.  Adding a GPS Tracking device to your vehicle saves money from lower insurance premiums.  Insurance companies appreciate the addition of these devices to your cars and trucks because it helps them lower their risk of loss and having to pay out on stolen vehicles.  One has to wonder how soon it will be that Insurance companies REQUIRE these devices before they will insure them.

Keep Track of Drivers

Got a teenage driver in your house?  Suspect your partner of cheating on you?  These are both legitimate uses of a GPS Tracking device.  Being stealthy about tracking and discovering the locations of vehicles when they are not where they should be is a tool that you can use to help ensure the health of your relationships.  Or, at least, knowing what is going on so that it can be addresses.

GPS Tracking devices are low in cost, but provide valuable benefits.  You would be wise to add one to all of your vehicles today.

Rocking Mountain Tracking has the best line-up of GPS Tracking Device to meet any need.  Take a look at their products and options for the best fit for your business.  You will find knowledgeable sales persons in helping you get the best unit to meet your requirements.

By Harriette Halepis

How honest are you when it comes to making an insurance claim? Nearly half of insurance claims are less than honest, and most people get away without telling the truth more than once. Up until this point, there was no real way for an insurance company to put all the pieces of an insurance claim together.

Today, GPS tracking exists, and it may begin surfacing at an insurance company near you. Insurance companies usually rely upon adjusters to act as crime solvers. Adjusters attempt to figure out what happened on the night that a car was broken into, a laptop was stolen, or some water fell onto a (now unrecognizable) expensive stereo system.

A New Tracking Era

While there is a certain science behind insurance adjusting, none of the evidence collected could really be considered concrete. Well, insurance companies are beginning to realize that there’s a better way to find out what items are, and aren’t, legitimately covered by insurance policies. Even though an insurance company cannot track every item that a person owns, they can certainly track bigger items.

For example, if you are attempting to insure a priceless collection of jewels, your insurance company may demand that you have those jewels securely stowed away. Now, insurers may also demand that you attach a GPS tracker to those jewels – just in case they disappear. With the help of a GPS tracker, insurers no longer have to guess where items have disappeared to.

Violation

Nearly every time some company or organization decides to use GPS tracking as a means to an end, someone somewhere yells “violation!” Is it a true violation of a policy holder’s rights if an insurance company demands that items are tracked? Not if a contract clearly states the use of a tracking device.

While most policy holders never bother to read fine print, you can bet that any insurance contract is entirely inclusive. From all of those things that you aren’t covered for, to all of those things that you must do to be covered, as long as an insurance company notifies you of any contract changes, you must abide by these changes.

What’s the alternative to ignoring any contract alterations? You simply won’t be covered when your precious items are ruined. Why? It is the responsibility of a consumer to read a contract entirely. Are you required to track your valuable items? Take the time to call your insurance company and find out.

By Greg Bartlett

Insurance isn’t just a good idea, it’s a necessity and a requirement. I recently purchased a car and had to go through the same process as all car owners – insuring the vehicle before it can be legally driven. But insurance can sometimes be very expensive, and people like me love to find ways to decrease insurance premiums, especially during these difficult economic times. You may seek discounts for safe driving, for being retired, for having auto-theft equipment installed, for being in the military, or for being or having a good student. Another way to lower insurance costs is by using GPS tracking.

Some insurance programs offer discount rates if a GPS tracking system is installed in a vehicle. This is especially useful if you have multiple members of your family driving, particularly teen drivers, who increase insurance rates sometimes exponentially. Since you are able to keep track of your vehicle with a GPS device no matter who is driving, insurance companies often offer lower rates if you do install a GPS device.

One study noted that insurance rates can be lowered by as much as 20% for those who install GPS tracking systems in their vehicles. One company offers discounts of between 5 and 15% for vehicles with a GPS system installed. Corporate fleets often take advantage of these discounts and find added benefits for doing so. Not only are they decreasing their insurance premiums, but they are also increasing worker productivity and efficiency, saving the company even more money.

Occasionally an insurance company will even require a GPS device to be installed. Whether it’s because you have too many high-risk drivers in your family or because of the number of vehicles in your corporate fleet, the insurance company may feel that GPS tracking is the only way to properly protect and monitor the vehicle that it is insuring.

GPS systems for vehicles have become much more popular in recent years, not just because of the advantages they offer in protecting and tracking your assets and in offering easy and efficient navigation, but also in reducing insurance premiums. So go ahead and invest in a GPS device. It will be worth it – you can use it to find restaurants, gas stations, and the quickest way to avoid a traffic jam. You can also use it to track your vehicle and family, and as an added bonus, it’ll save you money on your insurance.

By James Neely

Large, outdoor operations need a method of keeping track of and maintaining their equipment and assets. Consider the enormity of being responsible for thousands of acres of a national park or forest in which you use vehicles and equipment to help maintain. How important would it be to have a system in place to help with this feat?

That is where a GPS Tracking system will provide the support you need. In using one of these systems, you can maintain control on the whereabouts of your vehicles at all times. You can track tractors, off-road vehicles, mowers, boats, snowmobiles and lots more.

Where are your assets? Imagine being able to access one location to keep track of these items on a daily basis. No more worrying about whether or not they get stolen and how you are going to be able to recover them. Because you are able to track to within a few feet, the ability to supply authorities of the exact location is assured.

The police agencies tasked with finding and recovering stolen items are overwhelmed with cases. And more serious crimes take precedence over stolen items. There does not seem to be enough time and resources in following up on all leads in a given case. That, plus the fact the trail of evidence might be non-existent.
Insurance Costs are lowered. Because insurance company’s risk in losses are greatly decreased you will most likely see a reduction in insurance premiums as well. In the future, many agencies might resort to requiring GPS Tracking systems be attached and made functional on certain types of assets. This would make tracking easier while severely disabling the black market on the sale of stolen goods.

Choose your System. If you need real-time tracking, you can choose that type of system. However, if your needs do not include this option, you can take an on-demand system instead which gives you periodic tracking at your convenience. The on-demand system provides real-time vehicle tracking from a computer of your choice. It is perfect for monitoring time sensitive tracking as well.

Business saving – that is the term that can be used to help describe the value that this will give to your operations. Your liability is reduced by the use of the GPS Tracking system. The desire on the part of thieves in taking what is not theirs just to satisfy their lust for money should not put you in a financial bind. Your business will run in a more care-free way and you will be glad you made the investment. For more information, visit: http://www.RMTracking.com

By Greg Bartlett

Your loved one may suffer from dementia, tuberculosis, Alzheimer’s, or any one of a number of health issues. You aren’t just worried about your loved one’s health and physical well being, but about their location. If your loved one wanders off and gets lost, how will anyone be able to help if a need arises?

More and more, doctors are recommending GPS car tracking devices for some of their patients. For instance, tuberculosis can be highly infectious, but rather than keep the patient locked up away from everyone else, a GPS device can be used to monitor the patient’s location and ensure that no one else is in danger of being infected. One individual with tuberculosis was almost put in prison because of the health danger he posed to the community, but instead a GPS system can provided a better alternative. The individual lived at home while health professionals monitored him and his activities.

Doctors are also beginning to use GPS tracking devices with dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. At least a third of individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s regularly get lost, and around twenty-five percent of patients are sometimes locked out of their houses by family members who don’t know realize that the patient is outside of the house. For instance, one elderly patient in Florida with Alzheimer’s recently wandered off, but was quickly located by family members through a GPS system before he had gone very far.

Patients can also be kept out of nursing homes or hospitals since the family members feel more capable of safely and effectively caring for the patients. They no longer have to feel the stress of not knowing if their loved ones are safe since all they have to do is check with the GPS system to discover where their loved ones are.

GPS tracking devices allow and family members and health professionals to be notified by a phone call or text message if patients go outside a specified area, such as their regular daily track. Family members and health professionals can monitor the individuals and their locations through GPS systems, thus protecting patients from getting lost and separated from the help they need.

You no longer need to spend nights worrying about the safety of your loved ones. With GPS tracking devices, your family members with health issues can live independent lives while still at home and can have the freedom to go where they want while still being safely monitored.

By James Neely

There are certain principles that are important to maintaining a structured methodology in the world of loss prevention. This helps organizations insure that they are paying attention to all aspects of the subject. Here are the top principles and how you can help prevent loss by using GPS Tracking technology.

Prevention. Everyone knows the saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Often, after an incident has occurred, people second guess what could have and should have been done to help prevent at theft from occurring. Preventing includes taking steps to secure your property or assets. That is where a GPS Tracking system works best. When properly installed, it provides instant, real-time tracking of assets like automobiles, heavy construction equipment, etc.

Awareness. The next principle is being aware that theft can happen at any time, anywhere. Becoming a victim happens most often when you least expect it. Being aware also means being aware of your surroundings and in this case, the location of your property and assets.

Compliance. This has to do with those with who you are in business or work within your organization. There must be compliance to rules and regulations that will help keep everyone of the same mindset and attitude towards theft prevention. Everyone must know the consequences of actions and the methods employed in helping to prevent and prosecute theft.

Detection. A GPS Tracking system makes its biggest contribution in this principle. Having the ability to track and monitor usage of vehicles and equipment means that you can detect a theft soon thereafter. The real-time tracking means location, direction and speed can be passed on to authorities to help recover an asset sooner.

Investigation. If the theft was not traceable in real-time, the system with periodic tracking will still provide location information. This will help authorities find the item sooner which means recovery reduces down time.

Resolution. If every business took this approach to loss prevention, theft activity would decrease immensely. In fact, the black market for stolen goods would be dealt a serious blow – at least for items that are using GPS tracking systems.

These systems are affordable, easy to set up and the software for tracking is easy to use. The only remaining question is “when will you obtain one and begin to use it?” The sooner you do, the sooner you will reap the benefits as well as sleep easier knowing your vulnerability is greatly diminished.